Few golf shots invite second guessing than a ball sitting in the water. That’s especially true if enough of the ball is above the surface, giving you enough false confidence to take it. But this is where many golfers run into trouble.
The truth is, water doesn’t just stay – it changes everything. Before you even consider giving one of these lies, it’s important to know how to read your lies. Understanding what water does to a shot is often the difference between an impressive par-save and guaranteed disaster.
In a field test conducted by Cameron Robinson, head pro at Brentwood Country Club in Los Angeles, it became clear that the amount of ball visible above water is a reliable predictor of how well the shot will be affected.
For example, a ball that has just grazed in water is like lying in wet sand. When tested with a 52-degree wedge, the ball launched predictably and carried enough height to clear a steep bank 68 inches above the water. In simple words, the gun performed close to normal expectations.
But if the ball is slightly submerged in water – even a quarter under water – the resistance to impact becomes more pronounced. The group no longer moves freely. Instead, it clears the water and hits the ball almost simultaneously.
“The club is experiencing more resistance, with water and the ball absorbing energy,” Robinson said.
At this depth, Robinson found that the 52-degree wedge could still generate enough launch to clear the bank, but only if he increased his speed and changed his swing to a cutting motion.
A dramatic change occurs when the ball is completely submerged in water. Using a swing that normally produces a 60-yard shot with a 52-degree wedge, Robinson saw the ball travel only about 15 yards — about 25 percent of the expected carry. The strike could not transfer enough energy to the water to generate enough speed.
The Loft, in this case, proved to be a critical variable. Robinson found that while the 60-degree wedge produced the biggest splash, it also produced the worst results. That’s because more loft increases water resistance and reduces the effectiveness of strikes. Conversely, switching to a 45-degree pitching wedge gave Robinson a more inbound ball flight and allowed the ball to rise higher and further forward.
Technique, as Robinson discovered, is just as important as club selection when it comes to avoiding these tricky lies. He explained that golfers must generate a lot of speed when they suddenly stop the club afterwards – an action he calls “putting on the brakes.”
“This [move] it creates more speed at strike before the club descends immediately after impact,” says Robinson. “The motion is similar to that often used when hitting thick grass or big rushes, where maintaining speed on the ball is important to prevent the club from losing power before contact.”
The lesson is simple: water lies don’t forgive but they don’t happen. If there’s a rule of thumb to live by in these situations, Robinson puts it best:
